SPRING out of Stress

April is the United States' National Stress Awareness Month, and therefore, it is only appropriate for there to be a feature on stress in The Scribe. You will learn what stress is and what causes it along with discovering ways to ease stress.

What is stress? Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. There are four main types of stress, which are caused by a variety of things, but the worst types are internal stress and fatigue.

Internal Stress- Have you ever caught yourself worrying about things you can do nothing about or worrying for no reason at all? This is one of the most important kinds of stress to understand and manage. It is when people make themselves stressed.

Fatigue and Overwork- This kind of stress builds up over a long time and can take a hard toll on your body. It can be caused by working too much or too hard at your job(s), school, or home. It can also be caused by not knowing how to manage your time well, or how to take time out for rest and relaxation.

Most students, if not all, are interested in decreasing stress. The following are some tips to consider for lowering stress:

1. Take deep breaths using your belly when you feel frustrated, angry, or emotionally unstable.
2.  Take a walk, make sure you are alone, and do this regularly.
3. Stretching is very important to the de-stressing process.
4. Writing is very useful, whether it be poetry, writing letters to a friend, or keeping a journal. When you write you release subconscious emotions that you didn't realize you had until they are on paper.
5. Eat healthy.
6. Get a hobby. A hobby that you enjoy; something that will take your mind off things that do cause stress.
7. Make a ‘to-do list'. It is very important for people who are not well organized.
8. Hang out with your funniest friend more often. It'll rub off and you'll become more light hearted and less up-tight.

Stress is inevitable, it cannot be beat, but it can be decreased. The best advice is to live in the moment. Carpe diem: Seize the day. Don't dwell in the past, even two minutes ago, don't dream in the future. Live for today.

 Tip from writer: A great trick I learned for temporary stress relief and something that can calm you down is to close your eyes and gently put your fingers on the eyelids for one minute. Gently pinch the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and index finger for about a minute, as well. Try it, it works!

If you are feeling overwhelmed with stress, and the problems of life, and just need someone to talk with, contact UB's counseling services counselingservices@bridgeport.edu or (203)576-4454 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (203)576-4454 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (203)576-4454      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m in the Health Sciences Center, Room 119 (Warner Hall).

Source: http://AlwaysBuyLocal.com/articles/health/